The adventures of Hernan Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico

by Francis L. Hawks

Still his plan was not yet completed. As the friends of Velasquez thought that his authority was slighted, Cortes determined that he would make himself in every way independent of that authority. For this purpose, he now, with great solemnity, commenced a settlement in the country, giving to the new colony the name of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz.[5] The men were all assembled next, to choose officers for the new colony; and, as Cortes expected, the authority was given to Portocarrero, Alvarado, and Olid, three of his principal friends. As soon as these officers met in council, he came before them. He began by telling them that they were intrusted with great powers for the good of the settlement, and that he should be always ready to support them; and that since they were the chosen officers of the people, he could not think it right or proper that he should any longer keep the command which was given to him by Velasquez. He had come, therefore, to deliver up his commission to them, and was ready to take his place in the army as a common soldier. With this he left them.

He had no sooner departed, than the three officers elected him to the command of the army, as well as to the chief management of the colony. Then, to secure the good feelings of the men, the whole army was at once assembled, and they told them what they had done. All the former success of Cortes was now set forth before them, together with his bravery and generosity, and the bright prospects before all those who should follow such a leader. The men were greatly excited. They vowed their attachment to Cortes, and took an oath to stand by him at all hazards. Some few still held back, but they were brought over by presents and promises. Now the ringleaders, Diego de Ordaz, Velasquez de Leon, Escobar, and Escudero, were more angry than ever, and spoke more loudly against Cortes, in spite of all the numbers in his favor. To stop this, he instantly caused these men to be seized and fastened with fetters. In a few days they were set free, and Cortes offered to send them back to Cuba; but they chose rather to remain with him now. Their discontent seemed at an end, and all was again quiet and peaceable. Thus Cortes had managed to be more firmly fixed than ever in the hearts of his companions. His difficulties had only aided him.

As they still felt the want of food, Alvarado was now sent with a hundred men to scour the neighboring country, and, if possible, obtain supplies. In a little time, he returned with good news, but he and his men had been startled by some things which they saw. They had passed through certain villages, where there was abundance of food, and in one had entered one of the temples of the natives. There, to their great horror, they found the bleeding bodies of men and boys who had just been sacrificed, for the knife lay reeking with blood beside them. It was impossible for him to learn anything from most of the natives whom he saw, for they fled at the sight of him. He had met only one party who seemed friendly, and these were laden with provisions, and seemed to be going towards the Spanish camp. In a short time, this party came in with their supplies, and presented themselves before Cortes as messengers from the Cacique of Chempoalla, with a warm invitation from the Cacique that the strangers would visit him.

Cortes received them kindly, but doubted at first as to accepting this invitation, fearing there was treachery in it. He asked the messengers many questions, and at length discovered that their Cacique, though subject to the Emperor of Mexico, was no friend to Montezuma. This was enough to bring him to a conclusion, for he at once saw what advantage he might make of it. He therefore dismissed them, thanking the Cacique for his kindness, and promising that he would soon come and see him.

The spot where the settlement was begun was not a good one, and Cortes only waited for the arrival of Francisco de Montejo, whom he had sent in search of a better, to keep his promise with the Chempoallans. At the end of twelve days he came back, reporting that he had found a place called Quiabislan, with a fine harbor and a fertile soil. Cortes determined at once to remove his settlement there, and as Chempoalla lay in the way to this place, he was soon ready for his departure. When the Spaniards reached Chempoalla, they were surprised and pleased to see its large houses and wide streets lined with beautiful trees. The meeting was very friendly between the Cacique and the Spanish chief. The Cacique came forward with his principal men, all dressed in rich mantles of fine cotton, adorned with gold, and Cortes at once embraced him. He immediately began to complain of the cruelty and oppression of Montezuma, and expressed great joy that the Spaniards had arrived. Cortes at once saw that the poor man deserved and needed protection, and therefore, weak as he was with his little band, he offered himself as his protector. It was the desire of the Emperor Don Carlos whom he served (he said), that he should protect the weak, and free all who were oppressed; that he saw that his wrongs were many under the cruel tyrant Montezuma, and in a little time he would see that they were ended. With this promise he left the Chempoallans greatly delighted, and pushed on to Quiabislan.

He found this place to be just what Montejo had described it, and immediately marked out the ground for making the settlement. Then he led the way in the work, carrying materials and digging the ground for the foundation. His officers and men followed his example, the Indians readily assisted, and in a little time, the settlement was quite a comfortable place. While these things were going on, the Caciques of Quiabislan and Chempoalla frequently visited him, and talked of nothing but the tyranny and oppression of the Mexican Emperor. They had suffered much themselves, but were particularly bitter against Montezuma, on account of his late cruelties in the territories of the Totonacas, where they declared multitudes of men had been sacrificed by him. While they were thus one day talking with him, the news arrived that the tax-gatherers of Montezuma had come to the province to receive the annual tax. Next came a summons from these officers to the Caciques, calling upon them instantly to deliver up twenty of their men and women, to be offered as a sacrifice for their guilt in entertaining the strangers, contrary to the positive commands of Montezuma. The poor frightened Caciques were afraid to disobey the command, and thereby call down upon themselves the wrath of the Emperor. And yet they trembled at the thought of obedience. Cortes at once relieved them. He ordered his own men instantly to seize the tax-gatherers, and then issued his proclamation that no taxes should ever afterward be paid to Montezuma. The cowardly Caciques were now made strong by his boldness. In their rage against Montezuma, they declared that his collectors should be sacrificed to the gods, and but for Cortes it would have been done. He had to place a guard of his own soldiers around them to protect them.

The position of these Caciques was now dangerous enough. They knew the power and dreaded the wrath of the great Emperor Montezuma. His authority had been defied in their dominions, and they knew the consequence. They were themselves startled at the boldness of the Spaniards, for never before had they seen the power of their Emperor resisted. Indeed, they looked upon the strangers as supernatural beings, and gave them the name of Teules, a title which was bestowed upon their idols. Yet they rejoiced while they trembled, and knowing that there was no escape for them except through the Spaniards, they sought their friendship more earnestly than ever. Cortes quieted their fears as well as he could, by promising them his protection, and they in their turn swore fidelity to the Spanish king, declaring that they were no longer the subjects of Montezuma. The Totonacas, who smarted perhaps most under his cruelty, were the fiercest now in their opposition; but the three tribes, all with one accord, solemnly declared that they would follow Cortes in his expedition.

His strength was now somewhat increased, but very soon by his management he made friends of a fourth tribe. These were the people of Cincapacinga. It seems that the Cacique of Chempoalla had a bitter feeling towards these people, because (as he said) of certain outrages committed by the garrison there, and he urged Cortes to march against their town. The Spanish chief accordingly set out upon his march, but as he came near he learned from the Cincapacingas another story. Eight of the principal men came forward in great sorrow, entreating him not to molest them, declaring that the Chempoallans hated them on account of some old disputes about the boundaries of their territories. Cortes, anxious to make as many friends as possible, ordered that the people should be undisturbed, and that their town should not be plundered. Then he brought the unfriendly Caciques together before him, and persuaded them in his presence to come to terms of peace. Their quarrel was settled, and he had new friends.

He was now fairly in the country, backed by the affection of his own men who knew his value, and the friendship of four tribes that looked to him for protection and loved him for his justice toward them.[6] All things thus far had been managed with great prudence, and it is strange that we find Cortes just at this time guilty of an act of great imprudence. His early education, however, may in a measure excuse it. He had before this rebuked Alvarado for stripping an idol at Cozumel, and now he was himself guilty of a greater outrage of the same kind, towards the natives. He had entreated the Chempoallans to leave off the bloody rites of their religion. The priests were greatly shocked at his proposal, and immediately roused the people to oppose it. Cortes now became angry—instantly ordered fifty of his men to arms, and started to invade the temple. The Cacique begged him to do no violence, but the Indian warriors seeing his determination, seized their weapons for a struggle. Cortes marched on and ascended the steps of the temple. Seeing the warriors gathered to oppose him, he seized the Cacique with his principal officers and the priests, and declared he would instantly kill them if any resistance was made. The Indians now laid aside their arms and looked on with tears and groans. Cortes entered their temple—their idols were thrown from the altars and broken in pieces. He commanded then that even the fragments should be burned. The priests now came forward in their long black mantles, with their hair reaching to the ground clotted with blood, and their ears torn and cut, gathered up the pieces and burned them in the midst of the temple. The next command was to wash and purify the place; and after this the holy cross was raised upon the altar, and Father Olmedo invited the people to worship. The poor Chempoallans submitted to this, for they were weak and needed his protection.

The followers of Cortes had now been in the country nearly three months, and began to grow impatient to march toward Mexico. He was himself as eager as any, but had not yet arranged all things as he desired. The thought of the opposition of Velasquez tormented him, and he was determined if possible to have the approbation of Don Carlos, the King of Spain. He gathered his principal friends together, and told them that before starting, he thought it best to send special messengers to the King; and that, to please Don Carlos, it would be well to send to him by the same messengers a present of all the treasures thus far discovered. These friends approved the plan, and proposed it to the men. Strange to tell, almost every man willingly stripped himself of all he had gained thus far to swell the present of Don Carlos. It was for the common good, and that was sufficient. Portocarrero and Montejo were at once chosen as the messengers. With positive instructions that they should by no means touch in their voyage to Spain at the Island of Cuba, the messengers set sail, bearing to Don Carlos the present and a letter from the officers of Villa Rica, giving glorious accounts of Cortes, and the rich country which he had discovered for the kingdom of Spain.